#Hospital overcrowding

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#Hospital overcrowding

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Hospitals are advised to stay under an 85% occupancy rate but in 2023, hospitals across Cork and Kerry ran at 87% occupancy for in-patients and 129.1% for day-wards in the HSE South-West region. File picture</p>

news

Irish hospitals now so overcrowded they breach safe occupancy limits, report finds

Up to 934 extra beds needed in Cork and Kerry, to include up to 123 for day patients and up to 811 for in-patient overnight beds, ESRI data shows

<p>Some of the patient overcrowding scenes at the Emergency Department and surrounding corridors at University Hospital Limerick on Monday. On Tuesday, 133 patients could not get a bed at UHL. Picture: David Raleigh</p>

comment-analysis

Is Hiqa's UHL review another overcrowding report to be left on a shelf until the next tragedy?

<p>University Hospital Limerick. Picture: Dan Linehan</p>

munster

Hiqa warns Limerick hospital crisis needs urgent action with beds running out in Midwest

First opening of a new hospital since 2007 set for this week

news

First opening of a new hospital since 2007 set for this week

Jennifer_Horgan_Roundy_Head648c4eb28a468

Jennifer Horgan: The betrayal of Ireland’s elderly is happening in plain sight

In the Hospital Sick Male Patient Sleeps on the Bed. Heart Rate Monitor Equipment is on His Finger.

news

HSE warns it cannot fill vacancies even with agencies as staff shortage crisis deepens

Hospital surgery corridor

Almost 26,000 assaults on HSE staff over four years

Wait times blamed for tensions in hospitals

Sat, 09 Aug, 2025

Hospital Stock

Waiting list for endoscopy test climbs by more than 4,000 in five months despite €24m fund

Endoscopy tests can identify disease, including cancer

Fri, 08 Aug, 2025

More than 9,000 treated on trolley or 'inappropriate space' in Irish hospitals last month

More than 9,000 treated on trolley or 'inappropriate space' in Irish hospitals last month

Worst-affected hospital was University Hospital Limerick, with 2,257 people treated on trolleys

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Rise in covid-19 cases sees surge in presentations to CUH emergency department

Rise in covid-19 cases sees surge in presentations to CUH emergency department

The increase in ED presentations broght about by the rise in covid-19 cases earlier this week prompted hospital chiefs to issue a public appeal for people to consider all care options.

Thu, 31 Jul, 2025

Close up of doctor woman hands typing on laptop siting on a desk at the office

Hospitals dashboard data must be seen in proper context, say consultants

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association called for analysis to reflect outcomes, and not just the volume of patients seen in hospitals

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Waiting seats for patients in the hospital

Online hospital dashboard lets public view a wealth of current Irish health data

Department of Health dashboard offers information ranging from waiting lists to spending and staffing

Thu, 26 Jun, 2025

Nothing will improve at UHL without a problem-solving culture

Nothing will improve at UHL without a problem-solving culture

News again this week that UHL's A&E appears to be 'out of control' won't cause any surprise - but it will cause stress and worry for thousands of vulnerable patients, writes Siobhain Danaher

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Nurse sitting in a corridor while holding her head

'It just sounds like it’s out of control': Fears raised as UHL still under pressure

INMO counted 86 people on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick and five in Ennis on Tuesday

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

Hiqa review of emergency services pushed out until September

Hiqa review of emergency services pushed out until September

Hiqa says it is waiting for the ESRI to finish an analysis of emergency care demand up to 2030 by region

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Ireland's two children's intensive care units 'under strain' from severe overcrowding, audit finds

Ireland's two children's intensive care units 'under strain' from severe overcrowding, audit finds

Audit found very high occupancy rates of over 95% during 2023 at the units in CHI at Temple Street and CHI at Crumlin hospitals

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

Dr Chris Luke: Policing A&E should be treated like any other medical intervention

S Dr Chris Luke: Policing A&E should be treated like any other medical intervention

The news that gardaí are to be rostered to do shifts at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork may have surprised some, but to those of us who have chosen a career in acute healthcare, it is merely a reminder of a grim reality, writes Dr Chris Luke

Mon, 02 Jun, 2025

Patient beds in hospitals furniture interior decoration

Country will need 8,000 more public hospital beds by 2040, report says

The demand for more hospital beds will come about because of Ireland's growing and ageing population, according to the ESRI report

Wed, 28 May, 2025

Focused in an intense and emotional situation

Three ICUs had no urgent beds for 100-plus days last year

Beaumont Hospital, St Vincent’s University Hospital, and Limerick University Hospital were the worst hit — but almost all Irish hospital ICUs were above 90% capacity for more than 100 days in 2024

Mon, 12 May, 2025

Attack with fire extinguisher, punches, and racist comments among daily assaults on nurses

Attack with fire extinguisher, punches, and racist comments among daily assaults on nurses

INMO conference delegates call for greater security in hospitals to protect nurses from abuse and harassment

Thu, 08 May, 2025

A&E nurses strike

Assaults of nurses 'are going up', conference told as INMO calls for legislation on staff levels

An INMO survey also revealed one in five nurses and midwives were going to their GP for work-related stress

Wed, 07 May, 2025

Why is Beaumont getting a new emergency department and not UHL? asks campaigner

Why is Beaumont getting a new emergency department and not UHL? asks campaigner

Member of the Midwest Hospital Campaign group Marie McMahon asked: 'Are we less important than patients on the other side of the country?'

Tue, 29 Apr, 2025

Hospital stock

Doctors raise concerns about HSE plan to roster seven-day working week

HSE chief Bernard Gloster outlined plan for seven-day roster to delegates at the Irish Medical Organisation AGM, but unions have questioned practicalities of proposed changes

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

Consultants call for change to system of discharging patients from hospitals

Consultants call for change to system of discharging patients from hospitals

The 'criteria-led discharging' system increases the number of healthcare workers who can discharge a patient based on certain criteria

Mon, 31 Mar, 2025

File Photo Today HIQA will release Report into Portlaoise Hospital.

Over 1,100 submissions made to Hiqa review of emergency services in Mid-West

Hiqa was commissioned under the previous government to carry out a review of urgent and emergency healthcare services across Limerick, Clare, and north Tipperary

Wed, 19 Mar, 2025

Health watchdog review on emergency services in Mid-West now with health minister

Health watchdog review on emergency services in Mid-West now with health minister

Hiqa was asked to consider whether a second emergency department was needed at University Hospital Limerick

Thu, 06 Mar, 2025

Launch of three Women's Health Fund projects

Health minister ‘wasn’t pleased’ at hospital consultants weekend roster

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she met with HSE boss Bernard Gloster over recent weeks to set up a plan to roster more consultants and senior decision makers over the weekends

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

A hospital trolley

Almost 600 patients without a hospital bed after flu season pressure eases

There were 193 people across all hospitals with the flu, down from 869 at one point in late December

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

Performing surgery

Sharp rise in hospital cancellations 'shameful'

Paediatric surgeons have expressed 'significant concerns' around staffing levels

Thu, 20 Feb, 2025

In the Hospital Sick Male Patient Sleeps on the Bed. Heart Rate Monitor Equipment is on His Finger.

Is consultants working Saturdays the solution to the trolley crisis?

The health minister has linked the crisis to low numbers of consultants working weekends and bank holiday Saturdays

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Social Democrats deputy leader accuses HSE of manipulating waiting list figures

Social Democrats deputy leader accuses HSE of manipulating waiting list figures

According to recent figures supplied by the HSE, the average assessment of need period is now over two years despite a legal requirement that an assessment be carried out within six months

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

New overcrowding record for UHL with 130 on trolleys at under-siege hospital

Almost 800 people unable to get a hospital bed

People are urged to seek support from pharmacists, GPs, SouthDoc, or injury units unless they are seriously ill

Wed, 05 Feb, 2025

stretcher

January 2025 worst month for hospital overcrowding on record

Over 13,972 people were treated without beds, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation

Sat, 01 Feb, 2025

TD whose grandfather spent five days on UHL trolley sees 'no sign of easing' in hospital overcrowding

TD whose grandfather spent five days on UHL trolley sees 'no sign of easing' in hospital overcrowding

The Midwest Hospital Campaign heard that some patients in UHL were considering travelling to Galway or Cork instead for treatment

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

Cork hospital patients seeing 'more of the same' overcrowding linked to flu and storm

Cork hospital patients seeing 'more of the same' overcrowding linked to flu and storm

There were 58 patients on trolleys or chairs at Cork University Hospital and 17 at the Mercy by Monday morning

Mon, 27 Jan, 2025

HEALTH COMMITTEE

Flu deaths reach 94 as nurses warn of 'dangerous' hospital overcrowding

Nurses claim hospital managers are placing very ill patients in high-risk wards against clinical advice, and that overcrowding has seen more than 10,000 patients on trolleys this month

Thu, 23 Jan, 2025

Hospital corridor with gurneys

More than 80 hospital patients spend over a day waiting for beds

Researchers and doctors have warned repeatedly of the serious risks, including of death, from even one night on a trolley

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025

Flu levels 'very high', with 56 deaths linked to virus this winter

Flu levels 'very high', with 56 deaths linked to virus this winter

Last week saw 801 people admitted to hospitals with flu, including six admitted to intensive care units

Thu, 16 Jan, 2025

Hospital stock

Health unions vote for industrial action over continuing staff shortages

INMO and Fórsa members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action following what they say is the 'continued suppression and non-filling of vacant posts in the public health service'

Thu, 16 Jan, 2025

Health watchdog receives 300 submissions from public on emergency services in Mid-West

Health watchdog receives 300 submissions from public on emergency services in Mid-West

Monday saw a near record-high 138 people without a bed at University Hospital Limerick

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025

Sick woman having flu or cold. Girl lying in bed with cat wearing protective mask by pills and water on table

What can we do better to halt the surge in flu cases and hospital overcrowding?

There are hopeful signs that a universal vaccine may emerge in the near future that has the potential to reduce the need for an annual flu vaccination booster which would be a gamechanger in the annual surge in flu cases, writes Catherine Conlon

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025

Limerick tops trolley figures again with 138 people awaiting admission

Limerick tops trolley figures again with 138 people awaiting admission

Cork University Hospital ranks second, with 55 patients awaiting bed

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025

'Huge surge in presentations' and bad weather sees more than 100 patients on trolleys in Limerick

'Huge surge in presentations' and bad weather sees more than 100 patients on trolleys in Limerick

Monday saw 122 people without a bed, on Tuesday it was 102, and it stood at 105 on Wednesday, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation

Wed, 08 Jan, 2025

Trolley shortages see ambulances delayed for up to four hours at hospitals

Trolley shortages see ambulances delayed for up to four hours at hospitals

"They don’t have enough trolleys in the hospitals," said Siptu sector organiser John McCamley. "When the ambulance crew arrives at a hospital, they have to wait on a trolley for that patient."

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

Hospitals warn of 'unacceptable' pressures after 113 patients left on trolleys for over 24 hours

Hospitals warn of 'unacceptable' pressures after 113 patients left on trolleys for over 24 hours

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's general secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said the level of overcrowding over the festive period was 'entirely predictable'

Mon, 06 Jan, 2025

Candlelit vigil in memory of patients as hospital overcrowding spirals

Candlelit vigil in memory of patients as hospital overcrowding spirals

Patients in Cork and Limerick faced the highest levels of overcrowding, with some 95 people at UHL unable to get a bed and 65 at Cork University Hospital

Thu, 02 Jan, 2025

Winter Flu Stock

Catherine Conlon: When it comes to flu, prevention is better than cure

Irish hospitals are full of patients suffering from respiratory viruses, yet the rates of mask-wearing and flu vaccination remain stubbornly low

Thu, 02 Jan, 2025

Sick woman having flu or cold. Girl lying in bed with cat wearing protective mask by pills and water on table

Numbers with flu in hospital expected to reach 900 in coming days

Between December 20 and 27, 34,400 people attended emergency departments — an increase of 27,800 for the same week last year

Sun, 29 Dec, 2024

Female doctor is taking a child patient's temperature using a digital thermometer at pediatric office

More than 740 flu patients in hospital as pressure mounts

Symptoms of flu in children can include a high temperature, muscle pains, headache and extreme tiredness

Fri, 27 Dec, 2024

Hospital Stock

100 assaults on hospital staff recorded every month, but unions warn of under-reporting

According to the HSE's internal National Incident Management System (Nims), there had been 1,210 assaults of varying severity up to the middle of December

Tue, 24 Dec, 2024